Category: Interviews

Interview with Aikido School Ando Founders Edo and Anne: Donovan Waite’s Impact in Holland, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Siblings Anne and Edo Slui trained in aikido since they were children, having their parents unwavering support. They trained under many of the European greats, but found a special connection with Donovan Waite, making their way to many of his seminars throughout the years. Today, the two siblings sat down to talk about their experiences … Continue reading Interview with Aikido School Ando Founders Edo and Anne: Donovan Waite’s Impact in Holland, Part I

Interview with Bartitsu Practitioner Michael Sanders: Learning a System that Practices What it Preaches

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Michael Sanders first began longsword almost half a decade ago and wanted to find something he could train during the summer months, without dying inside the sparring gear. He stumbled on Bartitsu, a Victorian-era martial art blending self-defense, striking, and grappling techniques, and has yet to look back. Sanders sat down to share his insights … Continue reading Interview with Bartitsu Practitioner Michael Sanders: Learning a System that Practices What it Preaches

Interview with Rapier Marshal Lyon MacKeegan: Fighting in the Past and Recreating the Past, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

By the invitation of a high school friend, Lyon MacKeegan found himself being geared up for a Society for Creative Anachronism heavy combat bout. Shortly after, MacKeegan joined the rapier side of the SCA and continued has not looked back since. Throughout his thirty-plus years of active membership, he rose to the position of Rapier … Continue reading Interview with Rapier Marshal Lyon MacKeegan: Fighting in the Past and Recreating the Past, Part II

Interview with Rapier Marshal Lyon MacKeegan: Fighting in the Past and Recreating the Past, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

By the invitation of a high school friend, Lyon MacKeegan found himself being geared up for a Society for Creative Anachronism heavy combat bout. Shortly after, MacKeegan joined the rapier side of the SCA and continued has not looked back since. Throughout his thirty-plus years of active membership, he rose to the position of Rapier … Continue reading Interview with Rapier Marshal Lyon MacKeegan: Fighting in the Past and Recreating the Past, Part I

Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Laurin Herr found himself training under Robert Nadeau after a company merger and spending time in Japan training under Michio Hikitsuchi in Shingu. Bob Noha, on the other hand, trained with Nadeau since he was a teenager. Herr, Noha, and four other students of Nadeau came together during the Covid Pandemic to co-author what is … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part II

Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Laurin Herr found himself training under Robert Nadeau after a company merger and spending time in Japan training under Michio Hikitsuchi in Shingu. Bob Noha, on the other hand, trained with Nadeau since he was a teenager. Herr, Noha, and four other students of Nadeau came together during the Covid Pandemic to co-author what is … Continue reading Interview with Aikido Authors Bob Noha and Laurin Herr: Robert Nadeau and the Art of Transformation, Part I

Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Ron Breines began learning Kakuto-ryu, a strip down and straightforward martial art, from his uncle and his friend Bob in 1970. Stressing combat readiness, Breines found that his training assisted him in acquiring and internalizing many different martial arts and military combatives. Framing Kakuto-ryu in the similar fashion of Ryukyute, Breines emphasizes the combative elements … Continue reading Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part II

Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Ron Breines began learning Kakuto-ryu, a strip down and straightforward martial art, from his uncle and his friend Bob in 1970. Stressing combat readiness, Breines found that his training assisted him in acquiring and internalizing many different martial arts and military combatives. Framing Kakuto-ryu in the similar fashion of Ryukyute, Breines emphasizes the combative elements … Continue reading Interview with Kakuto-Ryu Pioneer Ron Breines: Ryukyute, Jujutsu, and Combatives, Part I

Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Dai Andrews has always been interested in the sword, beginning with classical fencing as a teenager. After getting himself into Kung Fu, he found himself studying Chinese swordsmanship, eventually finding his current teacher Scott Rodell. Such background prepared him for entering the Historical European Martial Arts community, taking one fight book and learning from it. … Continue reading Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part II

Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part I

~ Antonio Aloia ~ Leave a comment

Dai Andrews has always been interested in the sword, beginning with classical fencing as a teenager. After getting himself into Kung Fu, he found himself studying Chinese swordsmanship, eventually finding his current teacher Scott Rodell. Such background prepared him for entering the Historical European Martial Arts community, taking one fight book and learning from it. … Continue reading Interview with Chinese and American Historical Fencer Dai Andrews: Diving into Historical Swordsmanship, Part I